If you're driving down Route 66 in this neck of the woods, be prepared for two incredible sights…read more-painted rocks that look like living creatures! This one is near the intersection of West Main (Rt 66) and Stone House Road. It's a gorgeous rendition of a bald eagle. This beautifully painted rock outcropping has seen various lives as a whale, a shark, a frog, and a turtle. In 1989, a high school student repainted it as an eagle, and its lived on as an eagle ever since. Over the years, it gets repainted every once in a while and the year it was touched up is also painted under the eagle's beak. This is a freaking gem !!!

When I was little we would drive by this on the journey from New Haven to Hampton to visit family…read more It instantly became the thing my brother and I looked for on the way. I moved to this area and on a backroads drive randomly rediscovered this in all of it's patriotic glory. The eyeballs are slightly more terrifying than as a child I remember them being but it's still 200% 'Merica.

Passing through and wanted to take a quick break. This location was a great little spot to have a…read morequick snack and relax next to the roaring water sounds from the falls!

Nice little waterfall. Part of it is still under construction and there was also a wedding going…read moreon when I was there so I couldn't fully explore but what I did offered some nice views and tranquility. Was tempted to follow the tracks to see where/what else I could see but didn't have it in me this day.

First thing I learned is we've all had his name wrong…read more It's not "Smokey the Bear", it's "Smokey Bear". Makes sense, right? Think about it ... it's not "Donald the Duck or "Mickey the Mouse", is it? (Wise-ass remark from the back of the room) -"Yo, what about Kermit the Frog"? Hey, there's an exception to every rule. Anyway, the character of Smokey Bear was created way back in 1944 to make the country more aware about the dangers of forest fires and to preach fire prevention. Smokey's longevity makes him the longest running public service campaign in American history. I was surprised to learn that in 1984, he was honored with a U.S. postage stamp to mark his 40th anniversary. There are hundreds of these Smokey Bear signs all across the country. They publicize the threat level of wildfires. This Smokey Bear sign is located at the entrance to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection complex on Route 66. It's one sweet piece of Americana.

Very realistic yet non threatening portrayal of a North…read moreAmerican brown bear. Helpful in determining whether campfires/bonfires are appropriate by advertising how dry it is outside. Denim jeans are somewhat too provocative.

Cruising down Route 66, you might have a WTF moment when you pass the Columbia Fire Department. It…read morewould be totally understandable if you did a triple take at the apparent sight of a huge bear standing erect on its hind legs, staring menacingly at the passing cars. Well, it IS a bear, but this one is of the carved wood variety as opposed to the warm blooded variety. The bear was a 2001 gift from a grateful town resident to mark the building of the town's new firehouse. Not too shabby a gift, was it?

Just ten years after the Civil War ended, this solemn 16' tall granite monument was dedicated in…read moreSept 1875 to those from Colchester who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It's a wonderful likeness of an austere looking Union soldier wearing a long unbuttoned overcoat and cape. He holds his hat in his hand and is looking down as though he is in deep thought. Look at the amazing detail on the statue - the soldier's sad eyes and flowing beard and mustache, his rifle, bayonet, and cartridge box, the "U.S" on his belt, the folds of cloth on his cape, and the cavalry bugle on the top of his hat. There are a lot of engravings on every side of the monument. You can see a slogan reading "NOT OURS BUT / THE NATION'S". You'll see emblems of the Shield of the United States, a field of stars, and the Connecticut Seal. You'll see a "Roll of Honor" with 44 names. The main engravings read: COLCHESTER HONORS ITS DEAD WHO FELL IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION, 1861 - 5. ERECTED / SEPT. 17, / 1875.

This is hands down one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Emily from thesidedishers told me about…read morethis and I had to come and make a wish in the wish booth. There's so many negative things out there and this is just a ray of positivity in a cute little town in Connecticut. It boosts your self esteem and self worth and gives you hope. 100% recommend stopping here and sending your wishes into the universe. Because what is life without some hope and dreams. Hearts.

The Roseland Cottage is truly a beautiful historical gem in CT! I recently took a tour of the house…read moreand it was super interesting. Though the grounds are always open to visitors, guided tours of the house are only available June through mid-October, Thursday-Sunday from 11AM-3PM, every hour on the hour. Timed tickets can be purchased online in advance (and this is recommended). Adult admission is $20. Once I arrived, I was greeted by staff who were very friendly. The tour guide, MaryLou, took me through the house and explained the history of Henry Bowen (the original resident of the house) and his family. She was extremely knowledgeable and it was very interesting! The tour was supposed to last around an hour, but she went for about an hour and 15 minutes. After the tour you are free to roam the grounds and take photos, and there's also a small gift shop. Non-flash photography is allowed inside the house, but no video. Overall I found this to be a really beautiful historical spot in Woodstock, CT and would definitely recommend taking a tour!

My husband and I had our wedding here, the place was absolutely beautiful and that is the only…read morething that made the venue worth it. Laurie the women who handles Roseland cottage, on the other hand ended up being a bit difficult as our wedding got closer and closer. Sadly on the rehearsal day and wedding day she was rude and did things that we did not agree upon or said she wasn't going to do. She made herself seem understanding up until those days. She gave me sass remarks and honestly made the rehearsal day and wedding day more stressful. The only thing that made it worth it, like I said, was the beautiful venue. But Laurie in the end did make things feel way more stressful and difficult. Our catering was wonderful though, I could not have asked to better catering. They handled Laurie and everything else with class. Thank you renees Bistro.

This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission has the familiar white lettering on a blue…read morebackground. It's located in front of Farmington Town Hall at the intersection of Montieth Drive and Farmington Avenue (Route 4). The marker tells the story of Farmington's history, starting with the CT General Court's 1640 initiative to investigate settlement areas west of Hartford. They chose to settle by the Tunxis River and the settlement became known as Tunxis. The settlement became Farmington, and it grew to over 225 square miles. By 1775, it had grown to become the second largest town in CT. Farmington was very active in the Revolutionary War. How active? Well, a company from Farmington marched to Boston to fight for the colonies after the shootings at Lexington and Concord. George Washington himself traveled through town, and Rochambeau's troops camped here on their way to Yorktown. The plaque's description of the town ends with a nod toward it's beautiful homes, it's museums and schools. The plaque was erected by the Town of Farmington, the Farmington Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission in 1981. The marker is in great shape with the crisp white lettering and blue background in very good condition. The marker itself is placed in a pretty setting on the town green in front of Farmington's Town Hall.

I thought about writing up these six monuments separately, but the image of seeing them all…read moretogether, standing shoulder to shoulder and spanning the generations from the Civil War through Vietnam, convinced me to write about them as a unified memorial to our veterans. They share the town green, in front of a cemetery. Seeing them lined up, like the passage of time itself, is a very powerful sight. Starting on the left is Glastonbury's World War I monument dedicated in 1924. It's a bronze plaque on a granite base and lists the names of Glastonbury's veterans of the Great War. Sixteen were killed. The inscription reads: "In honor of those of the Town of Glastonbury who answered their country's call to serve humanity." Next over are two memorials to the Vietnam era. One honors all Glastonbury soldiers and the other salutes Airman Levitow whose extraordinary heroism saved many lives and earned him the Medal of Honor. The right side of the monuments honors Glastonbury's Korean War and World War II veterans. But the crown jewel of this display is the wonderful Civil War Monument known as the "Standard Bearer". It's a 1913 granite statue of Glastonbury's Captain Frederick M. Barber of the 16th Regiment of the Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Barber died from combat wounds at the Battle of Antietam. Barber is holding a flag in his left arm, and his right hand is poised to whip out his sword if needed. I love these Civil War monuments. This granite statue is 9' tall and dates to 1913. He's dressed in the usual long overcoat, a cap and a cape. Of course he has facial hair (in this case a stylish moustache) as so many of these monuments do. There are two inscriptions, Check out the eloquence of the second one. "Erected in memory of Capt. Frederick M. Barber and the soldiers of Glastonbury who gave their lives for their country, by Mercy Turner Barber, 1913." "More enduring than this monument will be the memory of their loyal, patriotic devotion to their country. This granite shaft in time will crumble to dust, but the memory of their heroic deeds, the noble sacrifice of their lives, will live in memory's realm 'till time shall be no more."

Very cool find on a rainy day. I liked the artifacts kept, minimal entrance fee, and portraits…read moredisplayed.

Quirky little museum tucked away on the campus of Norwich Free Academy. Great collection of…read moreplundered booty from rich US industrialists' world tours by private yacht. Eclectic but beautifully presented.